Paper-vending machine



D. R. GEBMMN.

PAPER VENDING MACHINE.

nrrucmou FILED JULY 30. ms.

Patented Mar. 23, 1920.

3 SHEETS-SHEET 1.

WVENTOR flan/5J2, dam/41h,

BY WMMMQ WITNESSES I Minn. u

0. n. GERMAIN.

PAPER VENDiNG MACHINE.

APPLICATION FILED JULY 30, 191B.

Patentd Mar. 23, 1920.

3 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

INVENIOR midi/g,

wmazssss ATTORNEY D. R. GERMAIN.

PAPER VENDING MACHINE.

APPUCATION men JULY a0.'19|a.

1,334,299. Patented Mar. 23, 1920.

3 SIIEITS-SI'IEET 3.

DAVID R. GERMAIN, OF DETROIT, MICHIGAN.

' PAPER-VENDING MACHINE.

Specifics-mien of Letters Patent Patented Mar. 23, 1920.

Application filed July so, 1918. Serial No. 247,431.

' To all LU/L07 it may concern:

. Be it known that I, DAVID R. GERMAIN, a

citizen of the United States, residing at De This invention relates to check controlled apparatus, and more especially to coin switches; and the object of the same is to produce a vending machine for the sale of newspapers whose cost is one coin or two coins.

A further object of the machine is to provide means for resetting the releasing mechanism automatically when the paper sold is extracted.

Other objects will appear from the following specification and claims, and attcntion is invited to the drawings, wherein Figure 1 is a front elevation of this de vice partly broken away and in section,

Fig. 2 is a vertical section on about the line 2-42 of Fig. 1,

Fig. 3 is an enlarged section through the coin chute on the line 3-3' of Fig. 1,

Fig. 4 is an enlarged detail to be referred to hereinafter,

Fig. 5 is a section on the line 5-5 of Fig. 1,

through which may be seen the folded news papers N which are to be sold. These are mounted within the casing forward of a follower F which 1s borne normally forward by a spring S as the papers are extracted one by one from the front of the stack seen in Fig. 2 and in a manner to be described below, and the front panel shown in Fig. 1 exhibits the headline on the front page of the paper, whereas the side panels seen. in Fig. 2 indicate to an observer how many papers there are yet in the casing. While I prefer to use this machine for selling. newspapers, and such has. been my custorn, it is quite possible that any other thin article which will fit the casing and will pass out the outlet 0 could be handled or vended in the samemanner.

Coming now to the details of the check controlled mechanism, the coin chute or tube is made double as indicated at 1 and 2, its top plate having an inlet 3', and its lower end an incline l delivering the coin or coins through the opening 5 into the money drawer 6. As seen in Fig. 3, the outlet 0 for the newspapers N or other articles to be vended crosses the opening 5, and when a newspaper is ejected downward by means yet to be described it is pushed over a guard plate 7 so that it can be grasped between the thumb and finger of the person and drawn out of place. Nevertheless the coin or coins have first passed through the opening 5 into the money drawer as will be explained. In the upper end of this com pound coin tube is a switch'plate 8 hinged at 9 at its lower edge so that its upper edge swings across the inlet 3 asindicated in Fig. 3, and after one coin has been deposited. and passes over one side of the switch and down one of the chutes or channels, the plate moves and the next coin passes down the other chute or. channel. The means for changing the switch and the purpose of the detail will be set forth below.

The ejecting mechanism consists of a bloclt 10 slidably mounted in a housing 11 on the front of the main casing C and moved by a lunch 19; whose shank slides in an upright slot 13 in said housing; and the rear of this block carries teeth 14- projecting through slots in the front of the casing and engaging the articles N as seen in Fig. 4. Therefore when the block is moved down ward by the operator, the teeth force one newspaper out the opening 0 and over the guard, plate 7, but when the block is moved upward by the operator the teeth slide over the face of the foremost newspaper for a new operation in a manner which will be clear. Meanwhile the follower F pushes the stack forward so that the foremost paper therein takes the place of the one which has been. ejected. Obviously this block 10 could be moved downward if it were not for means for looking it in its elevated position which means are tripped by the insertion of coins in a manner yet to be described.

The lock for the ejecting mechanism consists of a pair of like hooks disposed side by side and pivotally mounted at their upper ends at 20. From said pivot each hook 21 hangs as seen in Fig. 1, its bill 22 normally underlying one corner of the block 10 toward which it is borne by a leaf spring 32 which is fastened at its upper end to the rear edge of an arm 31 mounted on the same pivot and hanging alongside the hook. This arm has a pin 37 engaging a notch 37 in the inner edge of the hook, so that the arm maynot move outward without carrying the hook with it but the hook may move as seen in Fig. 6 without'carrying the arm. In other words, the arm has an mward movement independent of the hook but in its outward movement it actuates the book. The tip of the latter is undercut as seen in Figs. 1 and 6, and the edge of the block 10 is provided with a series of, teeth produced by recesses 19 as seen in Fig. 4, there being one series of teeth for each of the two hooks. Therefore in its upward movement, the teeth of the block slide over the tips of the hooks, but the downward movement of the block is resisted by the engagement of the hook-bills with'said teeth if they do not engage beneath the lower end of the block as seen in Fig. 1. For swinging the arms 31 inward to reset the device, two bell-crank levers 23 are provided, pivoted at their angles and with their upright arms standing behind or outside the arms 31, while their horizontal arms24 are connected with the casing by weak springs 25. Co-acting with said horizontal arms is a lug 50, on the block 10, and when the latter moves down-to its extremethis lug strikes said arms 24 and actuates the bell-crank levers'as will be explained. Pivoted to the lower end of each arm 31 is a tumbler 36 extending outward through a slot in a guide plate 39 and notched in its lower edge as at 38 so as to engage said plate when the arm 31 is advanced. This holds the arm and therefore its hook 21, with the bill 22 of the latter under the block 10, but when the tumbler is tripped from engagement with the guide plate a strong spring 35 may act to swing the parts out of locking pos'ition and permit the descent of the block. There are two tumblers 36, and in Fig. 1 I'have shown that the rear end of the foremost or first tumbler is bent so as to form a cam 46 as will yet be described. Otherwise-the tumblers are duplicates of each other. The guide plate is also shown in Fig. 6 as made in two members 39 and 39 connected with each other by a screw. Fig. 8 shows that the stronger spring 35 is connected only with the arm 31 leaving the hook 21 free to swing. The parts are shown in their locked position with the notches 38 of the tumblers engaging the guide plate, but the trip mechanism is purposely omitted from Fig. 6. It will now be seen that anything which raises and trips the tumblers permits action of the stronger springs 35 so as to disengage the hooks from the block, allowing the operator to move the block and eject a paper N.

The tripping mechanism is actuated by the insertion of coins. A push rod 40 leading through a suitable guide 41 underlies each tumbler, the lower end of the rod being pivoted at 42 to a lever 43 which in turn is pivotally supported at 44 and carries a pan 45 extending within one of the chutes 1 and 2 of the coin tube as seen in Fig. 3. Finally. one of the tumblers carries the cam 46 engaging a finger 49 on the pivot shaft 9 of the switch plate 8 for a purpose to appear, said shaft also having a spring 48 holding the plate normally rearward or in the position shown in Fig. 6 and in dotted lines in Fig. 3.

lVith the above construction, the operation of this machine is as follows: Assuming-that the magazine or casing C has been loaded with a stack of papers N as shown in Fig. 2, and suitable instructions are printed upon the front of the casing so that the public may operate the machine and any customer can secure a paper on the insertion of two coins, and assuming also that he follows instructions, his course would be to first insort a penny in the inlet 3. This coin strikes the plate 8 and travels down chute 1 onto a pan 45, tripping the lever 45 to the position shown in dotted lines in Fig. 1 and thereby raising the push rod 40. The tip of the latter raises the tumbler 36 so that its notch 38 disengages the plate 39, and the spring 35 acts to retract one of the hooks 21. In this movement of the tumbler, its cam 46 strikes the finger 49 and throws the switch plate 8 to the opposite osition indicated in full lines in'Fig. 3; ant when the operator inserts his second coin as per instructions, it travels down chute 2 and trips the other lever and raises the other push rod 40. According]; the second tumbler is raised and the second hook retracted. The bills 22 of both hooks now being out from under the block 10, the operator may grasp the knob 12 and move said block downward to eject ai newspaper through the opening or outlet 0 and over the plate 7 in a manner already described. \Vhen the block reaches its lowest oint of movement a lug 50 upon it strikes t 1e horizontal arms 24 of the'two bell-crank levers and resets the arms 31 and tumblers 36 and also swings the hooks inward as far as possible, and therefore in the upward movement of the block 10 its teeth 19 ride over the beveled tips of the bills 22 of said hooks and the block may be raised but it cannot be lowered. \Vhen it reaches its extreme upper-most position, however, the hooks swing inward beneath this block as seen in Fig. 1 thus resetting all parts for a subsequent o eration. The cam 46 has now disengaged tile finger 49, and the switch plate resumes its original position. Thus it will be seen that a two-cent newspaper cannot be purchased for one penny. The first coin inserted trips only one hook and throws the switch so that the second coin is directed along a chute onto the proper pan to trip the other hook. The result is that if some one tried to purchase a two-cent paper for a single penny, he would loose his money and get no paper.

This 'machine is, however, capable of bein so set that it will sell a newspaper or other article for one penny or one coininstead oftwo as I will now explain. The entire housing 11 and contained parts may be mounted within a case 51 as best seen in Fig.

7, and this case is attached .to the main casing 0 by screws 52 accessible only from the interior of said casing C: hence when these screws are withdrawn, the housing and its contents may be lifted out of place to make any change or repairs necessary. The pivot 20 is also shown in Fig. 7 as a screw accessible from the interior of the casing C, and when this screw is retracted the rear tumbler, its arm 31 and hook 21 can be removed. There being nothing to resist the tension of the spring 4.8, the switch plate 8 will now stand ever as-seen in dotted lines in Fig. 3, and all coins will drop to the front of the par tition or down the front chute, and only the front tumbler will be raised and tripped. However, only a single coin will. be necessary to trip it. The top plate 3 as shown in Fig. 3 is removable, and may readily be re placed by one having a different sized opening, according to the coin necessary. Thus an unskilled operator may convert this machinefrom one requiring two coins to one requiring a single coin, or vice versa, without the use of special tools.

As some papers N are thicker or thinner than others the bottom plate 56 could be made adjustable as seen in Fig. 2. Therein I have illustrated this plate as having an upturned ear 57 throughwhich isthreaded a set screw 58 swivelly mounted at 59 in the rear of the casing C, and by reaching into the interior and turning this set screw, the bottom plate can be-adjusted forward or backward to decrease or increase the size of the opening 0. The means for locking the top on the casing C is not shown, and also the means for locking the money drawer 6. I reserve the widest latitude in all these re spects. I repeat, as first above suggested, that the articles delivered do not need to be newspapers, but such} is the intention, and accordingly I have so worded the description. i

The foregoing description and the drawings have reference to what may be considered the preferred, or approved form of my invention. It is to be understood that I may make such changes in construction and arrangement and combination of parts, materials, dimensions, et cetera, as may prove expedient and fall within the scope of the appended claims.

Having thus fully described my invention, what I claim as new and desireto secure by Letters Patent, is

1. In a checlccontrolled mechanism, the combination with an ejector block, a pair of hooks pivoted alongside the path of movement of said block with their bills engaging it when it is raised, an arm pivoted alongside each hook, and loose connections between the arm and hook; of a weak spring moving each hook and swinging it normally into active position with respect to the block, a stronger spring connected with each of said arms and tending to retract its respective hook, a tumbler connected with each of said arms and having a notch engaging a fixed plate to resist the movement of said stronger spring, and coinactuated trip mechanism for said tumblers.

2. In a check controlled mechanism, the combination with a vertically movable ejector block, a pair of hooks pivoted alongside the path of movement of said block with their bills engaging beneath it when it is raised, each hook having a notch in its front edge, an arm pivoted alongside each hook, and a pin on the arm adapted to enter said notch; of a weak spring moving eachhook and swinging it normallyinto active position beneath the block, a stronger spring connected with each arm and tend ing to retract' the hook, a tumbler carried by said arm, means for latching each tum bler to resist themovement of the stronger spring, and coin-actuated trip mechanism for unlatching each tumbler.

3. In a check-controlled mechanism, the combination with a vertically movable ejector block, a pair of hooks pivoted alongside the path of movement of said block with their bills engaging beneath it when it is raised, an arm pivoted alongside each book, of a weak spring moving each hook and permitting the bill of the hook to swing normally into active position beneath the block, a stronger" spring connected with each arm and tending to retract the book, a tumbler connected with each arm and havmg a notch engaging a fixed plate to resist the movement of said stronger spring, a guide beneath each tumbler, a push rod slidably mounted through each guide and engaging each tumbler to trip the same, and a pivoted pan connected with each push rod and actuated by the insertion of a coin, for the purpose set forth.

4. In a check-controlled mechanism the combination with a coin tube having a plurality of chutes with a common outlet at their lower end and a common inlet at their upper end, the chutes being separated by a dividing plate, and a switch plate pivoted within the'tube above said dividing plate and with its free edge movable under the inlet, its shaft having a lateral finger; of the ejecting mechanism, the locking mechanism therefor, the same including a plurality of tumblers whereof one in .its movement engages said finger for moving the switch, and the tripping mechanism for said tumblers including pans standing within said chutes, for the purpose set forth. 5. In a check-controlled apparatus, the combination with the vending mechanism including a vertically movable block having a plurality of series of teeth in one end; ofa plurality of hooks pivoted at their upper ends alongside the path of movement of'said block, a weak spring drawing the bill of each hook toward the block and into engagement with one series of teeth or under the block when the latter is raised to its extreme, a lock mechanism engageable with each hook, coin-controlled trip mechanism for releasing said lock mechanism, and a stronger spring for swinging said lock mechanism, thereby causing said mechanism to swing said hook, as and for the purposes set forth.-

6. In a check-controlled apparatus, the combination with the vending mechanism including a movable block; of a hook pivv,oted alongside the path of movement of said block, a weak spring drawing the bill of said hook into engagement with the block when the latter is raised to its extreme, a tumbler, means connecting the tumbler to said hook, said tumbler having a notch engaging a fixed plate when the hook engages said block, a push rod for raising said tumbler out of such engagement, a. strong spring for forcing saidtumbler in one direction, and a coin-controlled lever connected with said push rod, for the purposes set forth. r

7. In a check-controlled apparatus, the combination with a vending mechanism including a movable block; of a hook pivoted at its upper'end and hanging alongside the path of movement of said block,'its bill extending under the block when the latter is raised to its extreme, a tumbler, means connecting the tumbler with the hook, said tumbler having a notch engaging a fixed plate when the hook engages said block, means for forcing the tumbler in one direction, a push rod for raising said tumbler out of such engagement, a lever pivoted between its ends and having one end pivoted to said push rod, and a pan on the other end of the lever standing in the path of an inserted coin, for the purposes set forth.

8. In a check mechanism for coin actuated machines, the combination with an upright inlet at its upper end, a plate movably mounted alongside the subdividing plate with its free edge moving across said inlet, and a lateral finger on the pivot of said plate, of an ejecting mechanism, a locking mechanism therefor including an elementcoutacting with said finger for shifting the position of said plate, and a tripping mechanism for saidlocking mechanism, for the purposes set forth.

9. In a device of the character described, the combination of a movable block, a hook pivoted alongside said block for engaging thereunder, a locking mechanism for engaging said hook, tripping mechanism for releasing the locking mechanism whereupon the hook may be moved from engagement with said block. a bell-crank lever pivoted below said block and engaging said locking mechanism. a weak spring connected -to said bell-crank lever for forcing the same in one direction, whereby when said block engages said bell-c 'ank lever, the lever will be moved to return the locking mechanism to its locked condition, thus freeing the hook and allowing the same to again engage said block, as and for the purposes set forth.

10. In a device of the character described, the. combination of a slidable block, a hook pivoted beside said block for engagement therewith. said hook having a notch therein, a lockingmechanism including an arm pivoted beside said hook, said arm having a pin to be received within said notch, means for relcasably holding the locking mechanism in a set position, means for forcing said locking mechanism in one direction, and a tripping means for releasing the locking means, whereby the second mentioned means will cause the arm to swing to remove said hook from engagement with said block, as and for the purposes set forth.

. 11. In a check controlled apparatus. the combination with a vending machine including a movable dispensing block, of a hook pivoted at its upper end and depending alongside the path of movement of said block, its bill extending under the block when the latter is raised to its extre c, a tumbler, means connecting the tumbler with the hook, said tumbler having a'notch tngaging a fixed plate when the hook enga ks said block, means for forcing the tumbler inone direction, and means for releasing said .tumbler from such engagement whereby the hookis disengaged from said block.

12. In a check controlled apparatus, the combination with an upright coin tube including a plurality of chutes separated by a dividing plate, the tube having an outlet at its lower end and a single inlet at its upper end, a plate movably mounted adjacent the subdividing plate with its free edge movin across said inlet, engaging means associated with said movable plate, of an ejecting mechlocking mechanism in one direction, and a tripping means for releasing the locking means whereby the second mentioned means 15 will cause said hook to disengage said block, as and for the purpose set forth.

In testimony whereof I afiix my signature in presence of two Witnesses.

DAVID R. GERMAIN.

Witnesses:

C. V. KEETT, GRANT C. Aunnnson. 

